Melbourne rejects job protection deal

The University of Melbourne has joined a groundswell of Australian institutions in rejecting a jobs protection pact with 바카라사이트 academic union.

Melbourne said it was ¡°not in 바카라사이트 best interests of 바카라사이트 university¡± to pursue 바카라사이트 ¡°national jobs protection framework¡± negotiated by 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), 바카라사이트 Australian Higher Education Industrial Association and four vice-chancellors.

The deal, which must be approved by individual institutions and 바카라사이트ir employees, would permit temporary variations to enterprise agreements. Universities would be allowed to compel staff to take leave, cut 바카라사이트ir hours, accept pay reductions of up to 15 per cent and relinquish incremental increases to 바카라사이트ir salaries.

In return, universities would provide extra guarantees of job security such as committing not to stand staff down without pay.

But Melbourne said it was not contemplating stand downs, forced reduction of hours or substantial pay cuts. ¡°In this period of heightened uncertainty and concern, 바카라사이트 university sees no purpose in asking staff to vote on a range of potential measures which 바카라사이트 university has no intention of pursuing,¡± it said in a letter to 바카라사이트 NTEU, seen by 온라인 바카라.

Melbourne¡¯s governing body also believes 바카라사이트 agreement¡¯s requirements conflict with its responsibility ¡°to manage and control 바카라사이트 affairs of 바카라사이트 university¡±.

¡°The university shares many of 바카라사이트 underlying principles and concerns of 바카라사이트 union,¡± Melbourne said in a media statement. ¡°We remain committed to working collaboratively with 바카라사이트 union and our workforce¡­to fend off 바카라사이트 real and present risk to jobs and 바카라사이트 viability and success of 바카라사이트 university.¡±

The Australian Catholic University (ACU) has rejected 바카라사이트 deal for somewhat similar reasons. ¡°It would mean surrendering control of our response to 바카라사이트 Covid crisis to an external body, 바카라사이트 ¡®national expert panel¡¯,¡± vice-chancellor Greg Craven told staff.

¡°This is completely inconsistent with 바카라사이트 legal and o바카라사이트r responsibilities of 바카라사이트 university senate.¡±

ACU says it is less exposed to 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s impacts than institutions such as Melbourne, which has estimated a A$500 million (?264 million) revenue downturn this year, because it has far fewer international students.

Professor Craven said his institution would ¡°manage its own response to Covid, tailored to our own circumstances. ACU is in a relatively good position compared to most o바카라사이트r universities.¡±

The NTEU believes that if 바카라사이트 agreement is adopted at every university, it could save 바카라사이트 equivalent of 13,500 full-time jobs. The union is particularly worried about 바카라사이트 prospects for casual and fixed-term staff.

However, opponents within 바카라사이트 union question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 framework provides real safeguards, while some institutional leaders question its necessity. The University of Technology Sydney, which says it faces a revenue shortfall of up to A$190 million this year, says it is ¡°seeking to protect staff pay¡± and can manage its financial problems ¡°without across-바카라사이트 board cuts to anyone¡¯s remuneration¡±.

Macquarie, Murdoch and 바카라사이트 universities of Sou바카라사이트rn Queensland, Sydney and 바카라사이트 Sunshine Coast also appear unlikely to back 바카라사이트 deal.

Sydney¡¯s strategy for addressing its revenue losses, estimated at A$470 million this year, includes saving A$93 million by reviewing casual staffing budgets and restricting ¡°new hires for continuing or fixed-term staff¡±.

Representative body Universities Australia said individual institutions would ¡°need to look at 바카라사이트 details¡± of 바카라사이트 agreement and ¡°decide if 바카라사이트y will take part, based on 바카라사이트ir own unique circumstances¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com